7 Arrested In La Union For Transporting Illegal Logs

TUBAO, La Union – The police here arrested 7 persons for transporting illegal logs with an estimated value of P165, 390 during the implementation of ‘Oplan Sita’ at the Tubao Junction, Barangay Francia Sur last Thursday.

Senior Inspector Juan Jhayar Maggay, Tubao police chief, identified the suspects as Felipe de Vera, 59, who identified himself as owner of the hot logs, a resident of Barangay Malakanyang, San Carlos City, Pangasinan; Nathan Arida, Melchor de Vera, Edwin de Vera, Jaime de Vera, Dante Cayabyab, and Jay Birot, all from the same Pangasinan city.

Maggay said the logs–310 pieces of mahogany, g-melina and acacia — with a total volume of 4,150 board feet were loaded in an Isuzu forward truck with plate number TPY 704.

Maggay said the truck owner presented a certificate of verification issued by Dagupan City environment office, but the acacia logs are not included in the permit.

It was understood that the hot logs came from Pangasinan, but it was not clear where these were being delivered or sold to in the province. Also, the junction in barangay Francia Sur where the illegal legs were seized is on the Jose D. Aspiras highway, the former Marcos highway, enroute to Baguio City.

Florencio Garcia,head of La Union provincial environment office, conducted an inventory on the truck and logs while the owner and his six companions were turned over to concerned authorities for the filing of charges for violations of Presidential Decree No. 705 or the Forestry Reform Code of the Philippines. The law imposes a fine of P20,000 for violators and imprisonment of at least one year. Northbound Philippines News